PHCs lack snake bite treatment facilities

According to some of the in-charges of PHC, they lack staff or anti-venom to handle these cases and hence refer them to the government hospitals nearby. Experts say that emergency treatment is important for controlling the spread of the venom and in helping the victim regain consciousness.

“The medical staff available at a PHC is usually not enough to handle snake bite cases that require a big team and specialists,” said a doctor on duty at Medavakkam PHC on condition of anonymity. In the case of this PHC, for instances, such cases are mostly referred to the Tambaram taluk government hospital in Chromepet, which has enough staff to handle a snake bite case.

It is not just the lack of staff, but also the unavailability of medical equipment prompts the medical staff at PHCs to not admit cases of snake bites.

“We don’t have more than five anti-snake venom vials to administer on the patient as is required on an hourly basis when handling a snake bite case. Hence, we only provide preliminary treatment and refer the case to the nearby government hospital,” said Janani, medical personnel on duty at CIT Nagar PHC.

Many PHCs in city limits, like the centre in Vyasarpadi, not receive many snake bite cases, as the government medical college hospitals are not far away. But that is not the case with the centres in rural areas, where most of these cases are reported.

The number of snake bite cases increase during monsoon. Around this time, reports also surface about victims not being admitted to the PHCs citing reasons such as lack of medical personnel or medicines.

When contacted, a senior official with the State Health Department said that the nurses and medical staff at PHCs are trained for emergency management of snake bite victims. “There are a small number of deaths reported in the State due to snake bites. The response rate has improved over the years,” said the official.